Kota Kinabalu: An agriculture officer was on Thursday freed from six charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM22,300, without his defence being called.
Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga discharged and acquitted Zainal Aliasan, 36, who was attached to the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) in Keningau, after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
Zainal was accused of receiving cash from a company owner, knowing that the individual was connected to his official duties.
The money was allegedly intended to facilitate the speeding up of claims payments to the company.
The charges further stated that the sums, ranging between RM2,050 and RM4,950, were deposited into several bank accounts belonging to Zainal’s friends between May and July 2020.
The offence, under Section 165 of the Penal Code, provides for a jail term of up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution called 16 witnesses during the hearing, which began in February 2024 after Zainal claimed trial to the charges on Sept 20, 2022.
Zainal had been suspended from duty following the charges against him.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Prosecuting Officer Dzulkarnain Rousan conducted the prosecution, while Zainal was represented by counsel Azhier Farhan Arisin.
